Inside Twitter for BlackBerry (Application Preview)

I’m excited to introduce you to the first version of Twitter® for BlackBerry® smartphones today. We’re launching Twitter for Blackberry smartphones in a limited preview through invite codes. If you didn’t receive a download code, DON’T WORRY! Head to www.blackberry.com/twitter and sign up to receive notification when Twitter for BlackBerry smartphones is available to all via open public beta later this year. To hold you over until that happens, I’ve put together this application preview of Twitter for BlackBerry smartphones. Let’s get started!

Integrating with the BlackBerry Platform:

The Twitter for BlackBerry smartphones application has been designed to take advantage of the BlackBerry platform to create a user experience that will be familiar to both Twitter and BlackBerry smartphone users. Some of the areas that we have focused on are:

Push technology and Message List integration to notify you of your direct messages as soon as they arrive.

Send/Share BlackBerry menu integration along with bit.ly URL shortening so that you can share your favorite BlackBerry App World™ applications, interesting websites or a random picture from your camera with your Twitter followers.

Here’s what it looks like to recommend an application to your Twitter followers from within BlackBerry App World.

Here’s what it looks like to share a website via Twitter using automatic bit.ly URL shortening from within the BlackBerry® Browser.

You can also capture what’s happening around you with your BlackBerry camera and send the shot straight to TwitPic!

Key Twitter for BlackBerry Smartphone features:

Want to see who is following you, or manage who you are following? Access your profile to see and manage both lists.

If you need to talk to your followers directly, you can send a direct message from your Twitter inbox or through your BlackBerry message List.

Use the people search feature to find and follow new people.

Find out what is being said around you using a GPS-enabled BlackBerry smartphone to filter Twitter topic searches based on how close they are to your position.

Check out the current or recent popular Twitter topics to make sure you’re among the first to know what’s being talked about on Twitter.

Twitter for BlackBerry smartphones supports the official Twitter Re-Tweet feature, making it easy to share interesting tweets with your followers.

As I mentioned above, Twitter for BlackBerry smartphones is available right now only through beta invite, but it will soon be available to everyone through Test Center in BlackBerry App World. We would love to hear your thoughts on what additional Twitter features you’d like to see in the application. Some examples we have in mind are: Geo-Tagging; Lists; Profile Editing and Multi-Account login. Make sure to sign up for notification, and stay tuned to Inside BlackBerry, MyBlackBerry and our official Twitter accounts for more details.

Twitter is a trademark of Twitter, Inc.

About Sean Hungerford

I’m the head of Product Management for BBM. I lead a team of incredible product managers that work closely with the development and marketing teams to bring the world’s best mobile social networking experience to users on BlackBerry, Android and iPhone. When I’m not busy with BBM you may find me on the tennis court or exploring KW with my Irish R&W Setter named River (for more on him check out my BBM Channel C0024F014 #Shamelessplug).

The views expressed on any corporate or individual's personal website or any Twitter account are not necessarily those of BlackBerry. The user's Twitter account and/or personal website, any corporate website, or any comments contained on any of the foregoing have not been reviewed by BlackBerry and do not constitute an endorsement by BlackBerry.